Stop & Find Your Zen

Feng Shui [fuhng shwey]: The Chinese art or practice of creating harmonious surroundings that enhance the balance of yin and yang, as in arranging furniture or determining the siting of a house.

Feng Shui is known for its “healing powers”. A home or office with good feng shui can reduce stress and anxiety in a person’s everyday life, which is especially important during the holiday season! So how do we bring it into our home and office? Here are some beginner tips from about.com for getting your living space in balance with your life.

Clear Out the Clutter. This step is essential in creating harmonious feng shui energy. Get rid of everything you do not love in your house.

Have Good Quality Air and Good Quality Light. These two elements are important for good feng shui energy, or Chi, in your home. Open the windows, use an air purifier, and allow as much natural light as possible into your home.

Define the Bagua. That’s the feng shui energy map of your house/office. The map lets us know which area of a space corresponds to which life aspiration. It can be confusing, but this diagram gives a step-by-step process of reading the map. Knowing our space’s energy allows us to enhance our environments in such a way that it helps us achieve our goal (for example, using a certain color in the bedroom can help us achieve relaxation).

Get the Basics of 5 Feng Shui Elements. The five elements theory is one of the main theories in feng shui. Using this theory can bring powerful results by knowing how to incorporate the elements into the right area of your home or office. Color is the easiest way to apply the elements to bring more harmony into your living space.

Find Out Your Feng Shui Birth Element. Create a home to nourish and support your energy. For example, if one of your own elements is Fire, you need to introduce the expressions of Fire into your space. This chart explains the elements a bit more, along with how to calculate your birth element.

Discover Your Kua Number and Your Lucky Directions. This will energize you with good energy. Adjust the position of your bed, your desk, the seating in your dining area. Certain numbers relate with certain placements. You can calculate your Kua number here.

Always Be Mindful of the Feel of Your Home. Make a habit of paying close attention to the so-called feng shui “trinity” that is deeply connected to your health. That includes your bedroom, your bathroom and your kitchen. If something feels off or brings negative energy, change up the space.